Category Archives: Frederick Douglass Blvd.

As one restaurant closes, another something opens. That’s the cycle of retail life in Harlem/ NYC. In this case, it’s another cafe! At 2118 Frederick Douglass Blvd, the old spot of Jado Sushi, it will now be…Bean & Barley, a coffee/espresso/beer/wine/spirits and bites. At least that is what the bright red awning says as we strolled by on Saturday, June 9.

The windows are papered up for now, but there is a leaflet posted with..barista needed. Stay tuned for more info, as Bean & Barley will more than likely open in the coming weeks.

As one door closes another opens…and that’s what’s happening at 2080 Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem! Paint’n Pour is moving into the space where The Park 112 Restaurant use to be! The signage is up!

According to their Facebook page, Paint’n Pour was located at 79 Madison Avenue, where one could actually paint “with the help of an open bar.” Paint’n Pours instagram account states they’re moving uptown to Central Harlem and the grand opening is coming soon!

I hope the painting stays indoors along with the cocktails. If my kids see adults painting outside, they’ll want to join in!

It’s true! CitiBike is past 110th Street in Central Harlem! There’s a bike station on the sidewalk between 111th and 112th Street on Frederick Douglass Blvd. CitiBike recently announced that they would be placing more bike stations uptown…and now they have.

The bike station is not taking up parking space, which should make locals happy. It’s taking up stroller space or walking space. I think the Village of Harlem can manage. Harlem has wide sidewalks, which is perfect for bike stations. No sign of the actual bikes yet, but that’s coming soon!

Burgers will not be cooking up in the space next to Chocolate Restaurant in Harlem. It will be Ganache Coffee! The signage is up in the commercial space between 119th and 120th Street on Frederick Douglass Blvd.

I guess Leon Ellis, the owner of practically everything on that particular block, changed his mind and decided to focus on coffee products instead-at least that’s what the signs are indicating!

One of the greatest actors on the planet was hanging out on Harlem's Restaurant Row last night, July 27. According to Row House's online social network, Meryl Streep and the cast of The Papers, Steven Spielberg's upcoming flick, were dining at their establishment. Here's the picture to prove it! Pretty awesome, don't ya think?

Tomorrow, May 10 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance will hold its sixth annual Food & Drink Boulevard event along Harlem’s Restaurant Row. This event invites local residents and visitors to explore restaurants and bars along the Frederick Douglass Boulevard from 112th to 124th Streets by reserving a wristband to receive $5.00 deals at 19 participating venues.

To assist patrons in navigating up and down Frederick Douglass Boulevard, FDBA is offering free pedicab service to wristband holders, and a mobile device-friendly map that shows where all 19 participating restaurants and bars are located, as well as each businesses’ $5.00 menu offerings.

To reserve a free wristband for the event, visit the FDBA website at http://www.fdballiance.org. On the night of the event, wristbands will also be available at Harlem Tavern, 2153 Frederick Douglass Boulevard on the corner of West 116th Street, and Angel of Harlem, 2272 Frederick Douglass Boulevard on the corner of West 122nd Street.

Feeling hungry for a bagel after that big snowstorm? Harlemites do not have to go far now for that big, round fluffy pan any more. Bo’s Bagels, located on 116th Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd in Central Harlem, is now open for business. They have been open for about a week under a soft opening schedule, i.e. from 7 am to 1 pm. Stop by and grab a bagel and stay tuned for grand opening details.

Another Harlem blog posted a question yesterday to their site asking: Has Melba’s on 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd shuttered? As of this evening, HarlemGal has the the answer. It’s no!

This blog walked by there this evening and all the lights were on and people were inside!

What prompted the questions around the status of Melba Wilson’s ten year old restaurant on Harlem’s restaurant row is that someone snapped a photo of that infamous sticker from the City slapped on the restaurant’s grey metal rolling gate. Ouch!

Hopefully, going forward, this type of uncertainty about whether Melba’s restaurant is opened or closed is a thing of the past. Fingers are crossed!

According to Experience Harlem, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are scheduled to be at Harlem Burger Company tomorrow, February 15 at noon. Harlem Burger Company is located on 118th and Frederick Douglass Blvd, i.e. Harlem’s Restaurant Row!

Move over Fifth Avenue, Harlem is getting into the holiday windows game. Spanning the corridor of Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 114th and the 122nd streets, eight Harlem businesses will display windows designed and executed by fifteen students from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design (VPED) BFA program. The window displays will depict holiday-themed scenes from the Harlem Renaissance. The windows will be on view from November 30 to January 2. Visitors are invited to stroll through the historic neighborhood throughout the holidays and enjoy the window displays, while learning a bit of Harlem’s rich history.

To kick off the season, two free window tours on November 30 and December 3 will be provided by ArtCrawl Harlem, Inc. The tours will feature live storytellers and vignettes with actors and performers bringing the windows to life. The family friendly outing will also include free children’s activity and coloring books, highlighting historical themes of the period, and refreshments from some of the participating restaurants.

Harlem Holiday Windows free kick off event will start at the Harriet Tubman statue on 122nd Street at 5:30pm on November 30, and will feature an interactive and intergenerational music performance by special guest Shine and the Moonbeams. The second kick off, also starting on 122nd Street, will be at 3pm on December 3, ending at the Shop Harlem Live Harlem Holiday Expo at MIST. Produced by Harlem Park to Park, the program will include an art filled afternoon for kids and adults.

In addition to the free kick off tours on November 30 and December 3, a full schedule of paid tours and programming around the Holiday Windows, will be offered by ArtCrawl Harlem, Inc., throughout the holiday season, from November 30-December 21. Programming will include weekly tours on Saturdays from 3–5pm (dates include December 3,10, 17).Registration is available on the website. Rates are $10 per person or $150 for groups 15-25.

Tours are available for groups by special request. For more information on Harlem Holiday Windows, and the participating businesses visit http://www.harlemholidaywindow.com or call 212.866.7427.